According to senior administration officials, the White House has communicated to Israel that the United States will not participate in any retaliatory strikes on Iran following a recent escalation of tensions.
Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel in response to an attack on its consulate in Syria on April 1.
US and allied forces successfully intercepted almost all of the weapons launched by Iran before they could reach their targets.
President Joe Biden reportedly advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to carefully consider their response to the unprecedented attack.
A senior administration official emphasized that Biden urged Israel to “think very carefully and strategically” about their reaction.
The official noted that the US believes Israel had the upper hand in the exchange, with Israeli military capabilities proving superior to Iran’s during the confrontation.
The official did not explicitly state whether the White House advised against a significant response from Israel, only mentioning that it’s a decision for Israel to make.
The US has conveyed its desire to avoid further escalation to both Israel and Iran through diplomatic channels.
National security spokesman John Kirby reiterated the US’s stance on de-escalation, emphasizing that the US seeks to prevent a wider conflict and will continue to defend Israel but will not participate in any Israeli response to Iran.
There has been criticism of the US’s approach from lawmakers and former officials across the political spectrum. Some have called for stronger support for Israel, including providing military aid without delay.
However, previous attempts to pass such aid packages have faced challenges related to including assistance for other countries like Taiwan and Ukraine.
Overall, the situation underscores the delicate balance of regional tensions and the complexities involved in navigating international relations in the Middle East.
Source-BBC
